IL Recruiting Invitational Spotlight: LI Sting

The IL Recruiting Invitational is an opportunity for players to get seen, make a name for themselves and leave their mark. IL will be spotlighting each participating club leading up to the event July 21-23 at Goucher College in Towson, Md. Check the homepage of InsideLacrosse.com for scores, photos and more during #ILInvite. Get the event schedule here and follow @ILInvitational on Twitter.

One of the more diverse teams attending the IL recruiting invitational will be LI Sting, which features players from across the nation. Run by Ken Miller, LI Sting has a long record of success and has sent several players to Division I schools, including Duke’s Zach Howell and Dan DiMaria, Notre Dame’s Scott Rodgers, and Virginia’s Matt Lovejoy and Adam Ghitelman.

While LI Sting has shined on the lacrosse field, Miller realizes that lacrosse is moreso an avenue to attaining a great education.

“I drill home to all my players that these events are simply a means to potentially leverage up to get a great education,” said Miller. “As is the case in any event, we want the parents and players to simply enjoy the experience afforded them at high profile venues. Our goal is for our players and parents to focus on the academic component of the process and to keep their options open, relative to the schools that may approach theirs sons subsequent to the IL event.”

LI Sting will be bringing a several committed players to the tournament, but aims to showcase some of its phenomenal younger talent to college evaluators. Some of the players to look out for are Evan Bernard, Chris Stach, Jim White Jr., and Griffin Thomas.

Bernard is a classic two-way middie. The 2015 athlete is looking to take a post-graduate year and will drop to the 2016 class.

“[Bernard] is extremely tough, hard-nosed and not afraid to mix it up,” said Miller. “He always gets his hands free with a quick release shot.”

Stach is a fantastic 2017 lefty attackman, with great dodging and ability to change direction. He’s being recruited by multiple Division I schools but is highly considering the Ivy League route.

White Jr. is an athletic 2016 goalie from Woodberry Forest in Virginia.

“Extremely athletic and very, intense and hyper focused,” said Miller of White Jr. “Absolutely no doubt that he can play at the highest levels in the DI arena.”

Thomas, an LSM from Deerfield, is a tremendously athletic defender who also is a successful wrestler. His size screams Division I, and he may also consider an Ivy League school.

But while LI Sting has several committed and uncommitted players being featured at the tournament, the invitational will perhaps allow some of the underexposed the opportunity to commit. Miller said the squad features several student-athletes who are a tournament or two away from making verbals.

One of those is 2017 Deerfield attackman Brian Davis. Fast and hard charging, Davis is described as having an extra gear, hustling for groundballs and stripping longpoles on the ride. He could be Sting’s next 2017 commit.

Davis, along with several other rising sophomores, juniors, and even freshman, are described as poised to break out at the IL Invite. Having a successful tournament with a regionally diverse squad will be tough, but it’s a challenge Miller enjoys.

“We hope that our players gel as team and complement each other. We have kids on our roster literally from all over the country , which is challenging, but it adds to the drama of the competition.”